The Ski World Championship in Trondheim was tough for Moa Ilar. She didn't succeed at all in the individual distance races and didn't get the chance in the blue-yellow relay team that took the World Championship gold.
The World Championship was really a rollercoaster and afterwards came this hangover. It's been tough, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It's been a very, very tough week, says Moa Ilar to Viaplay.
Ilar says she hasn't been her best self since the championship ended last Sunday, but tells that she has had support.
Had support
It's nice to have people around you who really care about who I am, not just the result. It's been very important for me to just come here with lowered shoulders and just get to compete, says the 27-year-old.
And as she performed in the 10 kilometer freestyle in classical Holmenkollen. Norwegian Heidi Weng was eventually the only threat, but the home athlete finished 1.6 seconds after Ilar. Third-place Victoria Carl, Germany, was distanced by ten seconds – world stars Ebba Andersson (fourth), Therese Johaug, Norway (fifth), and Jessie Diggins, USA (sixth) beat Ilar by 16, 18 and 25 seconds respectively.
Completely wonderful. This has been stuck inside me. To get to do it today and just feel that you're back, it's been a long journey really. I'm really going to enjoy it.
The first place was her second in her career in the World Cup. The first victory came in Finnish Ruka in the World Cup premiere last season – shortly after, she took her second podium when it became a third place in Gällivare.
"Can be turned around"
Last season started really with a bang and a victory the first weekend. The two first races last season were super good, but then I've been fumbling a bit in the dark, it feels like, says Moa Ilar and continues:
But today I'm giving myself the chance and going out hard. I have good skis and a good body. It feels so incredibly nice to finally get to step up on the podium again, it's been a long time really.
The Swede says it's been a while since she could enjoy competing.
This I'm going to take with me and carry with me for a long time – that it can be turned around, says Moa Ilar.
